Rainforest Trust
Rainforest Trust is a public charity based in Warrenton, Virginia, that funds and supports the creation or expansion of protected and conserved areas in tropical and subtropical regions. Its work is focused on habitat important to endangered species and climate mitigation, in partnership with nonprofit organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and communities.
Rainforest Trust at a glance
In short: Rainforest Trust gave $4.9M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $411K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,935,246
- +28.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $411,271
- +28.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $373,106
- Total assets
- $122,130,159
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Rainforest Trust
- How to Apply
-
Rainforest Trust welcomes applications for protected- or conserved-area creation or expansion projects. Its guidance describes a concept-note and application process. Eligible proposals must focus on creating or expanding a protected or conserved area, and the proposed area must be currently unprotected.
- Review Cycle
- A program listing updated in June 2025 recommended submitting concept notes for awards over $250,000 four months before its March 1, July 1, or October 1 deadlines. Those 2025 dates have passed. The listing said awards under $250,000 were accepted on a rolling basis.
- Deadline
- A program listing updated in June 2025 recommended submitting concept notes for awards over $250,000 four months…
- Contact
Mailing address: 6801 Kennedy Rd Suite 100B, Warrenton, VA 20187
Phone: (800) 456-4930
Website: https://rainforesttrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Rainforest Trust
Who Rainforest Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wildlife Conservation Society ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $4.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 59 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Rainforest Trust’s stated project scope is tropical and subtropical habitats. Its website identifies the Amazon, Congo Basin, and forests of New Guinea as examples of large, intact, high-biodiversity habitat; another page lists Amazonia, the Congo Basin forests, Southern African Miombo, and the islands of Borneo and New Guinea as priority landscapes.
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New York (41%), Virginia (24%), Texas (16%), Colorado (11%), and Georgia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Rainforest Trust gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2020) to $4.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $4.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $1,065,888 |
| Conservation International - Bolivia Arlington, VA | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $775,054 |
| Natura Bolivia Foundation Houston, TX | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $771,856 |
| Panthera Corporation New York, NY | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $653,238 |
| Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center Niwot, CO | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $520,726 |
| Rare Arlington, VA | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $431,610 |
| KTK-Belt Inc Hyde Park, NY | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $314,602 |
| Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Atlanta, GA | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $226,479 |
| Frankfurt Zoological Society Washington, DC | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $128,769 |
| New Venture Fund Washinton, DC | In Support of Conservation Efforts | $20,024 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $122,130,159 | $42,467,687 | $44,468,923 | $4,935,246 | 12 | $4,679,609 |
| 2024 | $122,718,026 | $18,502,312 | $17,606,567 | $3,841,445 | 12 | $2,843,571 |
| 2023 | $121,913,145 | $45,453,506 | $34,155,297 | $4,825,701 | 12 | $4,042,546 |
| 2022 | $109,550,247 | $41,042,049 | $31,709,070 | $1,837,316 | 12 | $759,986 |
| 2021 | $101,886,271 | $70,481,732 | $29,591,742 | $4,770,645 | 11 | $423,302 |
| 2020 | $60,678,998 | $27,510,966 | $30,513,270 | $20,049 | 2 | $833,737 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Rainforest Trust states that it protects habitats critical for species, ecosystems, and the planet’s climate. It supports projects that create or expand protected or conserved areas, including through land purchase, government designation, or strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ and traditional local communities’ land tenure and management rights. Its stated approach prioritizes areas of high biodiversity and threat, as well as large areas of intact habitat.
The organization supports nonprofit organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and communities. Its 2025 grants included, for example, Wildlife Conservation Society, whose stated mission is to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. Panthera Corporation describes its mission as conserving the world’s wild cat species. KTK-BELT Inc. says it works to develop biodiversity conservation and environmental learning in eastern Nepal.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Rainforest Trust reported 12 grants totaling $4,935,246. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $1,065,888, with a median grant of $373,106. The listed purposes were “in support of conservation efforts.”
The largest grants included $1,065,888 to Wildlife Conservation Society; $775,054 to Conservation International - Bolivia; $771,856 to Natura Bolivia Foundation; $653,238 to Panthera Corporation; and $520,726 to Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center. Other recipients included Rare ($431,610), KTK-BELT Inc ($314,602), and Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund ($226,479).
Rainforest Trust describes two award types. Feasibility Awards help address information gaps ahead of a larger protected-area project, such as developing a legal pathway for site protection or conducting endangered-species surveys; the typical award is $10,000. Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards support creating or expanding protected areas. The organization’s application guidance says projects generally begin with a concept note. Its stated review considers mission alignment, applicant due diligence, scientific metrics, and sociopolitical factors. For accepted projects, it describes an agreement with goals, milestones, reporting and payment schedules; payments may depend on satisfactory progress and reports and completion of milestones.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr. Bernie Tershy as chairman; Dr. Cullen Geiselman as vice chair; Jeffrey Zack as secretary as of June 2025 and Patricia Koval as secretary until June 2025; and Sarah Gillman as treasurer. Directors listed are Edith Mc Bean (as of June 2025), Kim Stewart, Ann Kaupp, Dr. Robert S. Ridgely, and David Quammen.
Rainforest Trust is led by James C. Deutsch, CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James C. Deutsch
CEO
Chief Executive Officer → CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$173K (2020) → $261K (2025)
Bernie Tershy
Chairman
Director → Chariman, 2024
Chariman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kira Seibel
Director of Marketing & Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Ann Kaupp
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Stewart
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert S. Ridgely
Director
Board Member → President Emeritus, 2022
President Emeritus → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Quammen
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Lundgren
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carlos Souza Jr.
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edith Mc Bean
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Grandy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yolanda Kakabadse
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Hohimer
CFO & COO
CFO → Chief Finance Officer, 2022
Chief Finance Officer → CFO & COO, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$65K (2021) → $183K (2025)
James Lewis
Vice President & Conservation
Vice President & Conservati → Vice President & Conservation, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$120K (2022) → $146K (2025)
Belinda Villanueva
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Jeffrey Zack
Secretary
Board Member → Director, 2024
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Gillman
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cullen Geiselman
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Eric Goode (2020–2025) — Director · Filing note: Until 6/2025
- Former: Geoffrey Chen (2020–2025) — Director · Filing note: Until 6/2025
- Former: Patricia A. Koval (2020–2025) — Secretary · Filing note: Until 6/2025
- Former: Jodi Hubble (2025) — Vice President & Philanthropy · Filing note: Until 020625
- Former: Steve Bernacki (2025) — Director of Conservation Strategy · Filing note: Until 112224
- Former: Eric Veach (2020–2024) — Chariman
- Former: John Mitchell (2020–2024) — Chair of the Council
- Former: Sally F. Davidson (2020–2024) — Director · Filing note: Until 522
- Former: Edith McBean (2020–2023) — Vice Chair · Filing note: Until 523
- Former: Leslie Vansant (2020–2023) — Vice President & Philanthro · Filing note: Ended 51823
- Former: Alicia Bush (2021–2023) — Director of Philanthropy
- Former: Kimberly Stewart (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Wayt Thomas (2022–2023) — Secretary · Filing note: Until 523
- Former: Drcullen Geiselmanfrom (2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Drcullen Geiselmanas Of (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Drluiz Barroso (2022) — Board Member · Filing note: As of 922
- Former: Eo Wilson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Gruin (2020–2021) — Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
- Former: Robert Giles (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Lovejoy (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: William Wyatt Thomas (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Angela Yang (2020) — Chief Conservation Officer
- Former: Beth Bush (2020) — Director of Philanthropy
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $261K, to James Deutsch (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rainforest Trust
How much does Rainforest Trust give each year?
Rainforest Trust gave $4.9M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.8M across 12 grants.
What is Rainforest Trust's typical grant size?
Rainforest Trust's median grant in 2025 was $373,106, and its average grant was $411,271, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Rainforest Trust give grants?
Rainforest Trust's top state is New York, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (24%) and Texas (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Arlington, VA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Rainforest Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Rainforest Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Support of Conservation Efforts" (12 grants).
Who are Rainforest Trust's largest grantees?
Rainforest Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Wildlife Conservation Society ($1,065,888), Conservation International - Bolivia ($775,054) and Natura Bolivia Foundation ($771,856), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rainforest Trust?
Rainforest Trust reported $122.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $42.5M.
What does Rainforest Trust fund?
Rainforest Trust states that it protects habitats critical for species, ecosystems, and the planet’s climate. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rainforest Trust?
Rainforest Trust welcomes applications for protected- or conserved-area creation or expansion projects. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rainforest Trust's EIN?
Rainforest Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3500609. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rainforest Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rainforest-trust-morg_5fecddebae2a4070b0638a5a9a38ecb5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133500609_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rainforest Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rainforest-trust-morg_5fecddebae2a4070b0638a5a9a38ecb5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Rainforest Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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